From a video still for the Onward with Love (OwL) song “Imperfectly United” (unreleased).

Wearing a mask with Onward with Love (OwL) is more vulnerable than I’d first expected. It requires me to use my body and voice a different way than I ever have before. It helps me explore who I am under the mask. Surprisingly it challenges me to be more direct and open — in music and in life.

I reconnected with an ole pal (and killer drummer/songwriter/producer) Gabriel Rowland, when he came to see OwL perform last month. He kindly invited me to his home in Altadena, CA to write a tune or two, and this is fast becoming a habit. We’re both having a blast collaborating on these songs that have a mix of modern mambo and ’60s soul. Good stuff! Gabe’s little boy, Cos (or “Cosman”) likes to get in the mix, too…

One of the best parts of living in Echo Park in L.A. is being just steps away from a great organization called 826LA, a non-profit for tutoring and literacy for kids ages 6-18.

This spring I took part in some weekly writing projects which brought me to Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights to assist 9th graders writing about what “transformation” and “resiliency” mean to them in the contexts of their school, family and community. I edited poems, stories and personal essays at Miguel Contreras High School downtown and led story writing collaborations with 5th graders at the center in Echo Park. One of my favorite things was to interview high school juniors who are beginning to think about topics for personal essays for college.

Every year 826LA publishes kids’ work, encouraging them to get more interested in writing and celebrating their finished pieces. These books can be purchased at the storefront called The Time Travel Mart, a themed store that also sells a bunch of novelty products based around the idea of “time.” The profits go to supporting the center. If you’re interested in finding out more visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/826LA. There are chapters in NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, D.C. and Ann Arbor, too.